IPBES

IPBES
Name	Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services
Formation	2012
Headquarters	Bonn, Germany
Members	140+ member states
Leader title	Chair

IPBES

The Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services is an independent intergovernmental body that assesses the state of biodiversity, ecosystems, their contributions to people, and the tools and policies for conserving and sustainably using biodiversity. It operates at the interface of science and policy, bringing together experts from fields represented by institutions such as the United Nations Environment Programme, the Food and Agriculture Organization and the World Bank. IPBES produces assessments and policy-relevant guidance similar in intent to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and interacts with multilateral processes including the Convention on Biological Diversity, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, and the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations General Assembly.

Background and Establishment

IPBES emerged from deliberations among national delegations, treaty bodies and scientific groups following calls at meetings of the Convention on Biological Diversity and the United Nations Environment Programme for a global mechanism akin to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Negotiations among representatives from governments such as Germany, Japan, Brazil, South Africa and institutions like the European Commission culminated in a resolution at a plenary in 2012 establishing the platform. Founding discussions referenced actors including the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, the Ramsar Convention, the World Conservation Union (IUCN), and advisory panels drawn from universities such as University of Oxford, Stanford University, and University of Cape Town.

Structure and Governance

IPBES is governed by a plenary of member states, supported by a Bureau and a Multidisciplinary Expert Panel composed of nominated experts from countries and organizations including the World Health Organization, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, and the International Union for Conservation of Nature. The Secretariat is hosted in Bonn, Germany and works with regional hubs and task forces. Chairs and vice-chairs—selected through sessions attended by delegations from nations such as United States, China, India, Australia and Mexico—direct the agenda, while collaborations with research bodies like the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and the European Space Agency assist in data synthesis. Financial and logistical support has involved donors including the Global Environment Facility, philanthropic foundations, and bilateral programs from countries such as Norway and Switzerland.

Assessment Reports and Thematic Products

IPBES produces global and regional assessments, methodological guides, and targeted reports. Major products include the Global Assessment on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services, thematic reports on pollination and food production, land degradation and restoration, and scenarios and models, developed by experts affiliated with organizations like the Natural History Museum, London, the Royal Society, Chinese Academy of Sciences, and the Australian National University. These assessments synthesize literature from journals such as Nature, Science (journal), Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, and draw on datasets from initiatives like Global Biodiversity Information Facility and Group on Earth Observations. The outputs inform multilateral negotiations at the Convention on Biological Diversity and contribute to policy dialogues at forums like the World Economic Forum and the United Nations General Assembly.

Methodologies and Conceptual Frameworks

IPBES advanced a conceptual framework integrating drivers, nature, and human well‑being, influenced by work from the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment and scholars at institutions including Yale University and the Smithsonian Institution. Methodological guidance covers valuation methods, scenarios and models, and ways to integrate indigenous and local knowledge from communities represented in case studies involving groups linked to the Convention on Biological Diversity Aichi Targets and stakeholders participating in dialogues with the World Bank. The platform collaborates with modelling consortia such as the Integrated Assessment Modeling Consortium and uses approaches from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change's scenario literature while developing its own standards for evidence synthesis and uncertainty communication.

Policy Influence and Global Impact

IPBES outputs have influenced negotiations at the Convention on Biological Diversity's Conferences of the Parties, national biodiversity strategies in countries such as South Africa, Brazil, Germany and India, and corporate commitments announced at events like the UN Climate Change Conference and the World Economic Forum. Policymakers from the European Commission and legislators in parliaments including the United Kingdom Parliament and the European Parliament have cited IPBES assessments. Civil society organizations such as World Wildlife Fund, Greenpeace International, and Conservation International use IPBES findings in advocacy, while research programs at institutions like Wageningen University and Columbia University have integrated IPBES frameworks into curricula and project design.

Criticisms and Controversies

IPBES has faced critique on scope, methodology and geopolitics. Some scholars and delegations associated with Brazil, Australia, and United States have debated assessment framings and the treatment of indigenous knowledge versus scientific literature, echoing tensions seen in negotiations at the Convention on Biological Diversity. Environmental economists at institutions like Harvard University and critics in journals such as Nature Ecology & Evolution have challenged valuation approaches, while stakeholders from extractive sectors represented by delegations linked to International Council on Mining and Metals and agricultural lobbies have objected to policy implications. Debates over transparency, representation of Global South scientists from networks such as the African Academy of Sciences, and the balance between normative recommendations and neutral assessments continue to shape IPBES' evolution.

Category:Intergovernmental organizations